Chevy Stevens is an absolute queen of psychological suspense and I have devoured all of her books. Her latest is set in the 1970s and is about a vacationing couple whose trip takes a harrowing turn when they invite in some hitchhikers. What ensues is a completely wild and terrifying ride. Stevens is an excellent writer but I wasn’t completely enamored with this plot like I was with all of her other books. It had a lot of action and violence. There was a lot of repetition until the very ending, which was good but it was hard to get to that point. I think fans will still enjoy this but it wasn’t my favorite.

The creative genius that is Chevy Stevens, once again, sent me on a rollercoaster filled with twists, action, drama, tension, and suspense with this new book! We are told to never pick up hitchhikers, and this book is what those words are created for. I don't want to give away anything, but I will say, this is a MUST read. A true thriller. Word of advice, the read does start out a bit slow, but about half way through, you won't be able to put it down.

Thank you NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the eArc.

Would you let two strangers hangout with you at your campsite?

After reading this, probably not. 🤣

This was the perfect thriller I needed in anticipation for spooky season coming up. While it wasn’t scary, it was darker than a lot of books I have recently read! I would rate it 3.5/5 as the end was a little far fetched for me, and the writing style wasn’t my favorite. But the story was sooooo good!

This is supposed to publish in October, but in the meantime, don’t pickup any hitchhikers.

Thanks to @netgalley and the publisher for a copy in exhange for an honest review!

#booksonbooks #bookstagram #booksonaburger #TheHitchhikers #chevystevens #october #goodreads #booksbooksbooks

🚨 Book Review: The Hitchhikers by Chevy Stevens
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

Set against the isolated backdrop of 1970s British Columbia, The Hitchhikers is a tense, slow-burn thriller that digs into grief, trust, and survival when the kindness of strangers turns into a living nightmare.

Alice and Tom set out in their RV to reconnect after tragedy, but one roadside decision—to pick up two young hitchhikers—shatters any hope of peace. What begins as a simple act of goodwill becomes a harrowing, claustrophobic fight for control when it’s clear these two strangers have no intention of staying passengers.

This book simmers with unease from the very first page. Chevy Stevens masterfully captures that feeling of being trapped—not just on the road, but emotionally, physically, and mentally. It’s gritty, haunting, and filled with characters that feel too real. Every twist left me tense and breathless.

It’s not just a thriller—it’s a story about the dangers of assumption, the weight of loss, and how far people will go when they’ve got nothing left to lose.

If you’re craving a chilling, atmospheric ride with an emotional core, The Hitchhikers is a must-read. Just… maybe think twice before pulling over for strangers.

This was a one sitting read for me, I simply could not put it down. Alice and Tom purchase an RV and set off from Seattle on a trip through Canada in 1976. They come across a young couple that look down on their luck and offer them a ride to the next city, and it does not go well from there. This book was relentless. The body count is high and the stakes for Alice and Tom are even higher. I was filled with a sense of dread that lasted throughout the book. Be forewarned this isn't just a thriller, it's brutal and dark. The end did throw me off a little but overall I would say I loved the book and would recommend it.

Not what I expected, but not a bad story. Kept me interested. Chevy Stevens is a great writer, will definitely read more.

I just finished reading "The HitchHikers" by Checy Stevens. Many thanks to NetGalley and St. Martin's Press for the advanced copy in return for an honest review.
First. of all, this story takes place in Beauiful British COlumbia, my home. I loved reading about roads and small towns I have been too. That was so cool. Chevy Stevens is a Canadian author and I love to support local talent.
The story is about a couple , Tom and Alice and set off on a road trip through the Canadian Rockies. They pick up two young hitchhikers who look and act delightful, but at a Gas Station Alice, reads a newspaper warning travellers about this young couple who are on the run because the committed a horrendous crime. Turns out, that its the couple they picked up.
What follows is a struggle for survival as the hitchhikers are determined to flee to safety and Tom and Alice are determined to survive.
I liked this book for reasons I've already stated. The pace and the backstory of all the characters certainly made them more realistic and the story was written in a realistic way. What I didn't like was that it was too violent for me. I didn't like reading certain parts. The character of Simon is an awful, person. And it was long, really really long. Some chapters I skimmed through. There was just. ALOT of detail.
All in all, a good book. Very well written with a suspenseful and scary tone to it.
Happy reading

BOOK REPORT
Received a complimentary copy of The Hitchhikers, by Chevy Stevens, from St. Martin's Press/NetGalley, for which I am appreciative, in exchange for a fair and honest review. Scroll past the BOOK REPORT section for a cut-and-paste of the DESCRIPTION of it from them if you want to read my thoughts on the book in the context of that summary.

Boring, derivative, wildly predictable, and yet somehow weirdly off when it comes to depicting the 1970s.

Yeah, yeah, I know I’m in the minority thus far when it comes to my reaction to this book. But as someone who had pet parakeets named Bonnie & Clyde back in the day? I think I’m well within my rights.

PS
I can’t tell this story complete with details, because if I were to do so, my mother (who wishes to remain anonymous) would teleport here and snatch the hair right out of my head.

So, here’s a Reader’s Digest Condensed version.

The parakeets were in a cage in the den (picture 1970s traditional ranch home, den/kitchen all one long room). Somehow the cage door got open, and one of the birds (I think Bonnie was yellow-green and Clyde was blue, although I’m not sure they were distinctly gendered, come to think of it…..) got out and started flying around. I remember Mama being on the phone with her mother, my grandmother Mama Ruthie, and saying, “Mama, I’ve gotta go, one of the birds just got out of the cage!”

And I’m, like, 10 or 13 or something, and DYING laughing because my mother (who is only 19 years older than me, but don’t worry about that, she had been married for a few years and I was planned) was suddenly chasing the bird around that long rectangular room with a colander.

She eventually got it.

I think I wet on myself laughing.

DESCRIPTION
The open road beckons.
A chance for them to reconnect.
Then they make a fatal mistake.

It’s the summer of 1976 and Alice and Tom set out on the remote Canadian highways in their new RV, hoping to heal their broken hearts after a devastating tragedy.

They’ve planned the trip perfectly, taken care of every detail. Then they meet two young hitchhikers down on their luck and offer them a ride. But Simon and Jenny aren’t what they seem. They’ve left a trail of blood, destruction, and madness behind them.

Now Alice and Tom are trapped, prisoners in a deadly game, with nowhere to turn. As the tension builds, the lines blur, and the question becomes, In whose heart does evil truly lie? What secrets are Jenny and Simon hiding? And who will live another day?

A chilling, twist-laden ride to the final page, THE HITCHHIKERS is that rare novel that will break your heart as well as hold you in suspense. The author of the classic thrillers STILL MISSING and THOSE GIRLS has delivered her next breathtaking novel.

This book was absolutely excellent. I was gripped to the story from the very first chapter. I loved the way Chevy told this story with great detail down to amazing character development and atmospheric intricacies making you feel as if you’re in the book and can see everything playing out as it’s told. This book was super dark in Chevy fashion with gruesome violence, kidnapping, murder and so much more. This is a book that I didn’t want to put down because I had to know how it would end. The characters, even the unlikable ones had a story and experiences that made them who they were. There were many sad moments, but in the end…I don’t want to spoil anything so I’ll leave it at that. I really enjoyed this book and definitely recommend it! *this book may have triggers for some, so proceed with caution*

Wow. I thought this sounded interesting but didn't realize how dark this would be. Suspenseful and fast-pacedm keeping you on your toes. A very good read.

This book was a little too dark for me. I like a little psychological suspense sometimes but this was dark and tragic. There is a little too much blood and violence for my liking with lots of description. I enjoyed some of her previous novels so I decided to give it a try. I did stick with it and had an inkling of the very end. I am sure there will be many who enjoy this type of twisted tale but just not for me. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press and Net Galley for an advanced eGalley. All opinions expressed are truly my own.
#TheHitchhikers #ChevyStevens #NetGalley

🚐 The Hitchhikers by Chevy Stevens | Pub Date: Oct 7, 2025

70s Road Trip Thriller | Dual POV | Fast-Paced

What starts as a healing road trip through 1970s Canada 🇨🇦 turns into a nightmare after Tom and Alice cross paths with Ocean & Blue, two young hitchhikers on the run to put distance between themselves and the killing of Ocean’s Mother & Step-father. Alice, who bumps into Ocean in the washroom of the campground they are staying in, invites her back to their site to give her some bandages for her feet. Alice & Tom have no clue what they are getting themselves into when they offer Ocean & Blue a ride the next morning.

This was relentlessly tense, short chapters, dual POVs, and a creeping dread that never lets up. Alice’s emotional journey (especially her complicated feelings around motherhood) added such depth, while the 70s setting brought the story a gritty, nostalgic edge I loved.

I think you will love this book if you enjoy:
✨ Road trip thrillers
✨ Dual perspectives
✨ Emotional character arcs
✨ 1970s suspense
✨ Good vs. evil themes
✨ Books that never slow down

Chevy Stevens nailed that mix of high-stakes action and complex character work. This one had me holding my breath. Just know, it’s dark, intense, and completely absorbing.

This book improved as it went, but overall it was not what I was hoping it'd be. (It's certainly not a twist-laden thrill ride as some reviews make it out to be.)

In the story, Alice and Tom give some youth a ride in their RV, but tables are turned when they are kidnapped by the couple (who are wanted for murder) and taken on a crime spree. Jenny the pregnant member of the couple, seems to feel bad for the imposition, (but remains enthralled with her boyfriend), while Simon relishes being the bad guy and opts for violence wherever he goes.

The problem I had with the story is the stakes rarely change, only the scenery. Simon makes Alice drive the RV all around Canada where he does a crime, Jenny whimpers, and Alice keeps a stiff upper lip and gets through it.

From robbing stores, to a home invasion, to armed robbery and car theft, the same pattern gets repeated so many times it starts to feel repetitive. Sure Alice makes small moves to get Jenny on her side, but for the most part, the reader is stuck along for the ride with these characters.

Thankfully, things change in the final quarter of the book and there is some genuine high-stakes action scenes and a final twist I did not see coming. I hope readers make it through the initial rinse and repeat chapters to enjoy that payoff.

Thank you to the author and NetGalley for granting me the opportunity to read this in exchange for an honest review.

The Hitchhikers by Chevy Stevens is a wild ride. It is dark, suspenseful and at times scary. It really makes you wonder how you would react in a similar situation and feel for what the characters are going through. I couldn’t put it down. Great read.

The Hitchhikers tells the story of Tom and Alice set in the mid-1970s Canada, reeling from a personal tragedy, deciding to take an RV trip to the Olympics while working to repair their marriage. At a rest stop, they encounter couple Ocean and Blue whom they offer a ride. What was supposed to be a friendly gesture turns into a literal nightmare for Tom and Alice when the hitchhikers they picked up reveal their true intentions. They are trapped, subsequently terrorized, and held hostage in their own RV. How will they make it out of this? Or will they? This was a 4* read full of action until the very end. Thank you to St. Martin’s Press for the E-Arc and the chance to review it!

Really good book. Had twist and turns i didn't see coming. Normally I have a book figured out in no time, not this one. Keep me wanting more from the first page. A great read.

Chevy Stevens delivers a charged thriller with The Hitchhikers. The premise is chilling (especially for us kind-hearted campers), and the emotional weight of the story stays with you. I was hooked from the beginning and flew through the final chapters.

The middle portion dragged a bit for me. While I understand the fear and trauma the characters were experiencing, I found myself frustrated at times thinking, why aren’t you trying harder?! It became a little repetitive and slowed the momentum.

What really stood out, though, was the emotional gut punch at the end. Once the full story unfolds and you learn who all is truly “responsible,” it hits hard and forces you to reframe everything you thought you knew. A powerful, haunting twist that elevates the entire book.

Thank you to NetGalley and St. Martin’s Press for this eARC in exchange for my unbiased review.

This is a wild story that left me thinking. I am still pondering this one a month later. What would I have done in this situation?



*************spoiler alert************

Number one - I am married to a man that would definitely have given the young couple a ride/place to stay without thinking of the possible consequences or consulting me. I am the jaded one that would have no way given these young folks a ride but would give them some food and have sent them on their merry way.

Number two - Would I help to commit crimes because my husband is a hostage or find a safe way to save us both? I like to think I am good in a crisis and a critical thinker.

For these reasons, this one has stayed with me. Who really knows what they would do until they are in that kind of life or death situation?

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC in exchange for my unbiased review.

This book was NOT a slow burn. It didn’t take long for Stevens to push the throttle down. Hard.
Fast paced and tense, it’s a quick and easy read.

I did feel like there was some plot holes in the beginning. Whatever tragedy happened to Alice and Tom was easily figured out but should have been stated fully and not casually implied. Either tell me or save it for the final twist.
Overall I would recommend this book.

Thank you for the ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Chevy Stevens has been on my favorite shelf since she released her first book.
The Hitchhikers is another great read that will keep you turning page after page.

The story moves along well with few shocking moments but that doesn’t take away from the story.

You will love to hate a few characters and cheer for others.
This is a story you would expect from Stevens. Good solid story.